Christianity is humility and brokeness not pride and arrogance

It doesn't take long to view webpages of some Christian authors and organizations to get the idea that they are better than the rest of us. They proudly list their accomplishments, degrade others with whom they disagree, and suggest to you that if you embrace their teachings and contribute to their causes then you will become healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Yet, Paul talks of repentance, salvation, and godly sorrow all in the same phrase. He tells us that knowledge makes one arrogant and that we shouldn't think of ourselves too highly.

Sadly, there is a tendency in the modern Western church to teach a convoluted gospel that is not the real truth. It is sort of the idea that Christ died a cruel and horrid death on the cross so that you can enjoy the American dream without changing your lifestyle, without surrendering to Christ, without doing anything really other than reciting a prayer once in your life.

Therefore, the lost man reasons, "God loves me. That's great because I love me." And he adheres to, "I'm okay, you're okay." Thus, there is no real need to repent for sins, no need to have godly sorrow, no need to change anything within. But none of this really squares with the teaching of the Scripture.

Is it any wonder then that people who label themselves as Christians think it is perfectly okay to protest at funerals, degrade others in public, marry whomever they want, live in adultery or fornication, accept and follow false doctrine, and pursue materialism above righteousness? Why are we consumed with the quality of our food and the style of our clothes when the Lord told us not to be concerned with such things? Why is it that Christians think it is okay to live lifestyles and churches embrace lifestyles that the Bible says people who do so will not go to heaven?

The real danger of following those who teach a false gospel is coming to the end of life and standing before the Lord only to learn you trusted in the wrong teaching. Jesus stated it, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"

Perhaps it is time that you ask God to teach you the truth. If you have never done so, read the Bible for yourself. (Start in the New Testament. You don't have to read it all in one day. Read 4 to 6 pages a day until you get through.) Compare what you read in the Bible to what you have accepted as truth. Also compare what you believe is the way to salvation with the 4 spiritual laws.

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Andrew Verrett is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and teaches parents of school-age children at Park Street Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. His book, "91 Days to a Better You: Spiritually and Physically" not only is a proven resource for those trying to lose weight, but also comes with a daily devotional.